Tatneft Gas Stations Limit Fuel Sales in Moscow and St Petersburg

Fuel sales have been restricted at some gas stations in Tatarstan, while major chains in Moscow and St Petersburg have started limiting purchases. At Tatneft stations in Moscow, customers can buy no more than 20 litres of AI-92 or AI-95 petrol and 40 litres of diesel, according to station employees.

Tatneft stations in Moscow

Employees said the limits began on 12 June. Similar restrictions were imposed the same day at Tatneft stations in St Petersburg. Rosneft stations in Moscow limit customers to 90 litres per vehicle tank or fuel container, and Lukoil said no more than 100 litres of petrol or diesel may be sold per receipt.

Tatarstan government limits

The Tatarstan government said the restrictions were introduced "to prevent artificial panic" and "to maintain a stable situation." The republic ranks second in Russia for oil production, behind the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, and is among the country's top five refining regions, with several major oil refineries located there.

June 12 refinery strikes

On 12 June, the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported successful strikes on the TANECO and TAIF-NK oil refineries in Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan. On 2 June, ORTK introduced restrictions on vehicle fuel sales at stations operating mainly in Moscow Oblast and New Moscow. Rosneft and Tatneft said there was no company-wide limit and said restrictions could be introduced at individual stations depending on circumstances.

Residents of Belgorod and Ryazan oblasts, Krasnodar Krai and several other Russian regions have complained about shortages of petrol and diesel at filling stations, while the most severe shortages have been reported in Russian-occupied Crimea. Petrol deliveries there have been disrupted by Ukrainian drone strikes on the highway linking Crimea with Russia's Rostov Oblast.